We are the UK’s not-for-profit umbrella body for the social value field.
We believe in the critical need to put society and our shared future at the heart of decision-making and policy.
We support, empower and champion the professionals, organisations and change-makers who are striving to create positive social impact through their work, and to put society first.
We draw on our network to share and advance good practice, and to advocate for change.
As a membership body, we aim to meet the evolving needs of the individuals and organisations that make up our network. We provide a growing range of resources, case studies, training and events, sharing good practice and promoting collaboration, learning and exchange, across sectors and industries.
We draw on the wide-ranging expertise across our membership to influence wider change, championing the power of social value as a field of work, showing how it supports inclusive and sustainable development, and aiming to unlock greater social benefit.
We take a collaborative approach, partnering with others to convene and connect people and networks, and to show strong collective leadership.
We are part of a global movement of change-makers, aiming to influence the decisions and policies that shape our world.
Find out about working with us as a member or partner, or get in touch with our team.
Our history
The Institute for Social Value was established in 2007 as a membership organisation, then known as the SROI Network. It represented individuals advocating for the Social Return on Investment framework: a way of measuring the impact of decisions beyond the balance sheet, pioneered by our experts. The ambition was to ignite change across the world by training people to account for social value.
The SROI Network later merged with SIAA (Social Impact Analysts Association) and developed into two connected, but distinct organisations: Social Value UK and Social Value International. The latter advocates for social value on a global stage and provides an umbrella for a growing number of national and regional networks.
Social Value UK later became the Institute for Social Value, initially focused on training and accrediting professionals, but then starting to welcome organisational members. This was part of an expanded vision to advocate for social value to be considered in decision-making, rather than just accounted for.